Fight against holiday depression, Part 3: the 'unofficial' support system Published Nov. 20, 2010 By Tech. Sgt. Stacy Fowler 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing Public Affairs JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq -- (Editor's note: This is part three of a three-part series on support available for those deployed to Joint Base Balad, Iraq, during the 2010 holiday season) The holiday season is viewed by many celebrants as a time of "peace on earth" and a sudden influx of packages through the post office. But for some deployed during the holidays, peace and packages might be hard to find, or replaced entirely by depression or even thoughts of suicide. For those who are having problems during this time of year there is a silver lining. Here at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, there is a support system readily available: Balad Chaplaincy Corps; 332nd Expeditionary Medical Group Mental Health Clinic; and friends, supervisors and base organizations who encourage deployed members to stay connected with family and friends during this time of year. The advice from Mental Health? Don't hide from the holidays. "We know you can't be home with your family, so celebrate the holidays here with your friends," said Dr. (Maj.) Dennis Tansley, Air Force certified psychologist, and a native of Guildford, England, deployed from Royal Air Force Upwood, England. "Make the most of it, and do as much as you can of what you would do at home, whether it's decorating a tree or playing holiday tunes at work." Many might view going to a chaplain or to Mental Health as too "official" - but there are just as many "unofficial" sources of support at Balad that can make a holiday season bearable. The first lines of defense are front-line supervisors. "Front-line supervisors are our best bet for taking care of our Airmen, Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and civilian employees," said Chief Master Sgt. Harold Hutchison, 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing command chief. "Supervisors should have a vast scope on the lives of their troops, including if they have a spouse, boyfriend, girlfriend, and if they have children. They should be vigilant of potential personal issues, especially if it begins to affect them at work to that point the issue must be addressed. Supervisors shouldn't be in their troops' chili, but they should know what's in it." One of many benefits available here at Balad is the overabundance of choices to stay connected with friends and family at home said Chief Hutchison, a native of Pennsylvania, deployed from Robins Air Force Base, Ga. Between the USO, Red Cross, and the 332nd Force Support Squadron there are countless wired and wireless connection capabilities. "With all the available services, we have a bundle of ways to say 'Happy Holidays' to our folks back home," said Chief Hutchison. However, if after a video chat or a phone call, you start to feel any of the following; it's probably a good idea to speak with someone: - Feelings of sadness or unhappiness - Irritability or frustration, even over small matters - Loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities - Insomnia or excessive sleeping - Changes in appetite: decreased appetite and weight loss or increased cravings for food and weight gain - Agitation or restlessness: pacing, hand-wringing or an inability to sit still - Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements - Indecisiveness, distractibility and decreased concentration - Fatigue, tiredness and loss of energy; even small tasks may seem to require a lot of effort - Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or blaming yourself when things aren't going right - Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions and remembering things - Frequent thoughts of death, dying or suicide - Crying spells for no apparent reason - Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches But don't think that you have to start with a supervisor if you're having issues. There are first sergeants, friends at work and personnel around Balad who are more than willing to help. "There may be times when you might not feel comfortable speaking with a supervisor, so find someone you trust or consider a friend," said Chief Hutchison. "As long as you confide in someone and get those issues out into the open, you're taking the first steps to making things better. We have a great support system here: chaplains, first sergeants, front-line supervisors; use them and they will help get you through." Suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.